Worshippers of the Christian faith in Bantul, on the island of Java, were locked out of the Pentecostal Christian Church, stopping people from praying there. The building permit was revoked on Friday after a mass protest from locals, meaning nobody is allowed inside, according to religion watchdog International Christian Concern (ICC).
The building was locked, creating confusion among Christians who said enforcement was brought in for “a made-up reason”. The National Commission on Human Rights stated: “The administration seems to have created a made-up reason to stop the church operation.” They also said the permit revocation could constitute a case of “maladministration”.
Authorities said regulations state that places of worship receiving permits should have been established before 2006, used as places of worship permanently or continuously, have religious characteristics or symbols, or have historical value for the local community. They claim the church failed to follow at least one of these points but have not specified which. The matter will now be taken to the State Administrative Court.
The incident follows a spate of crackdowns on Christianity in certain parts of the world. Last week, it was reported that Christians were “kicked like footballs” in a horrific assault in India by an angry mob. Up to eight Christian families were seriously injured in an attack in Belchori, Jharkhand, by Hindu radicals who demanded they recant their faith. When they refused, five Christian worshippers were attacked by a mob of more than 100 people.
